The students at Westminster Academy were excited to learn about violin playing! photo is courtesy of: Kathryn Brannan

In the Suzuki violin method, beginning students learn to hold the violin by first holding a rice box! Can you believe that? I still can't! As crazy as this is--- it works! The violin student can first focus on learning to hold the bow while their muscles can get stronger to hold the rice box and then eventually, the violin itself! picture by: Kathryn Brannan

In this picture above, the student bows on her arm and holds an 'air violin' to feel what it is like to push and to pull the bow! Photo taken by: Kathryn Brannan

Each child got to do the 'Suzuki handshake' (not seen in photos) and each child held the rice box. Photo credit: Kathryn Brannan